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Top Five Self-drive Travel Apps for Your Trip to South Africa

South Africa is among the most popular destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. A country diverse in culture, demographics and scenery, South Africa makes for unforgettable travel memories. As the country is so rich, it is only logical to visit as much of it as possible during your travels. Road trips across the country have thousands of adepts every weekend or holiday period.

In order to guarantee you a safe, enjoyable and autonomous travel experience, we’ve curated a list of self-drive travel apps to maximise your visit to South Africa.

Tracks4Africa Guide

This guide will make travelling, to even the most remote parts of Africa incredibly easier. It provides you with detailed maps of all regions of South Africa, with all the relevant information you may require – all without needing a working internet connection. Though it is not a GPS navigation app, it helps you familiarize with your environment, even hours into the dense South Africa bush.

iTrack Southern Africa

If you are a fan of safaris or other wildlife experiences, you will need this app in your travels. The app provides key information on 57 Southern African mammal species, keeping you abreast on what to expect in your camping, tracking or research expeditions.

Africa: Live App

Africa: Live App is an effective app with a purpose. The app allows users to view and share wildlife sightings (pictures, videos etc.) on their smartphone in real time. By using this app, you will also be contributing to The African Conservation (by helping them acquire more important data). Who knows, your pictures might even end up on the National Geographic Channel.

XE Currency App

This one is a no-brainer. To save money and budget effectively, you will constantly need to be up to date with exchange rates. The app works by saving last update rates to provide you with accurate calculations at all time. The XE currency app converts over 180 world currencies.

World Nomads

When travelling, do you ever wish you could communicate as effectively as you can at home? Not only is it a question of safety, but it also facilitates bonding experiences with locals from your travel destination. The World Nomads app features important travel phrases in a variety of languages that will spare you the need of a translator.

What You Need to Remember:

An enjoyable travelling experience is about preparation. When visiting South Africa, you will want to make the best out of your every meeting, every journey and every leisure activity. To facilitate this, download any (or all!) of the apps mentioned above. They will not just save you time and money, but also provide you with the best autonomous travel experience you could get. Most travellers book a vehicle with car hire South Africa to accommodate their travels

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Top Five Self-drive Travel Apps for Your Trip to South Africa

Author: Lana Goodwin - 21 October 2019

Last Update: 30 January 2024

Part of the African Safari South Africa & Travel To South Africa & African Safari Collection

South Africa is among the most popular destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. A country diverse in culture, demographics and scenery, South Africa makes for unforgettable travel memories. As the country is so rich, it is only logical to visit as much of it as possible during your travels. Road trips across the country have thousands of adepts every weekend or holiday period.

In order to guarantee you a safe, enjoyable and autonomous travel experience, we’ve curated a list of self-drive travel apps to maximise your visit to South Africa.

Tracks4Africa Guide

This guide will make travelling, to even the most remote parts of Africa incredibly easier. It provides you with detailed maps of all regions of South Africa, with all the relevant information you may require – all without needing a working internet connection. Though it is not a GPS navigation app, it helps you familiarize with your environment, even hours into the dense South Africa bush.

iTrack Southern Africa

If you are a fan of safaris or other wildlife experiences, you will need this app in your travels. The app provides key information on 57 Southern African mammal species, keeping you abreast on what to expect in your camping, tracking or research expeditions.

 Africa: Live App

The Africa: Live App is an effective app with a purpose. The app allows users to view and share wildlife sightings (pictures, videos etc.) on their smartphone in real time. By using this app, you will also be contributing to The African Conservation (by helping them acquire more important data). Who knows, your pictures might even end up on the National Geographic Channel.

XE Currency App

This one is a no-brainer. To save money and budget effectively, you will constantly need to be up to date with exchange rates. The app works by saving last update rates to provide you with accurate calculations at all time. The XE currency app converts over 180 world currencies.

World Nomads

When travelling, do you ever wish you could communicate as effectively as you can at home? Not only is it a question of safety, but it also facilitates bonding experiences with locals from your travel destination. The World Nomads app features important travel phrases in a variety of languages that will spare you the need of a translator.

What You Need to Remember:

An enjoyable travelling experience is about preparation. When visiting South Africa, you will want to make the best out of your every meeting, every journey and every leisure activity. To facilitate this, download any (or all!) of the apps mentioned above. They will not just save you time and money, but also provide you with the best autonomous travel experience you could get. Most travelers book a vehicle with car rental  South Africa to accommodate their travels.

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Must-have apps for travellers to south africa.

Travelling and touring is constantly reaching new heights, as mobile phone apps make moving around easier, safer, more efficient, and diverse with the array of activities you can become exposed to.

At Curiocity, we have a passion for encouraging the curious traveller. In this article, we would like to share with you a few awesome, must have apps for you to download to make the most of your trip to the dynamic, colourful South Africa.

Data and airtime in South Africa

Before downloading any apps, it’s a good idea to become familiar with connectivity in South Africa . While overall WiFi presence is on the rise here, it is still not as abundant as in some other countries. We recommend that you have some preloaded data and airtime on your phone for moments in public places where WiFi is not readily available.

‘Airtime’, also known as talk time, is a credit balance on your phone with which you can send text messages and make phone calls. In South Africa, you can purchase airtime via cash or card at most grocery shops, corner stores, and petrol stations. Airtime can be converted into data, which gives you access to the internet, allowing you to surf the web and use any apps or features that require an internet connection (including all social media apps). The price of data bundles varies, depending on the service provider .

If your phone can take a South African SIM card, you will easily be able to buy one at any South African airport and get data and airtime at the same time. Some smartphones are not compatible with South African SIM’s. In this case, it’s best to have data and minutes loaded in your own country before your trip.

Get prepped with these friendly apps for travellers

There some really helpful apps available for navigating South Africa, each aimed at making your tour as rich as possible:

One of the easiest and safest ways to travel in South Africa is by using Uber. Ubers are perfect for occasional trips around the city, allowing you to enjoy it without having to worry about taking care of a rental.

You confirm a pick-up point and destination, and the app links you to a driver currently in the area. The app will provide you with information about the driver, including their name, car make and registration, phone number, and user-rating. (Note: Always double-check these details before getting into a vehicle).

Download Uber on Google Play and the iOS App Store .

Gautrain App

The Gautrain is an incredible, rapid transit railway system, which travels across 80 km between Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ekurhuleni and OR Tambo International Airport. It offers the perfect alternative to travelling by car, and gives you a chance to do some sight-seeing without the stress of finding parking, or getting stuck in a jam.

The Gautrain App, available on Google Play and the iOS App Store , provides you with information on all arrival and departure times, the nearest Gautrain stops, peak and off-peak timetables, as well as travel costs.

If you find yourself in Cape Town, a reliable, public means of transport is the MyCiTi bus service. MyCiTi has routes all over the Cape and offers rides at affordable prices. To use it, you just need to buy a MyCiTi card and preload it with cash.

Download the app to plan your journeys, by receiving information about timetables (with real-time updates), the nearest bus-stops, including directions for how to get there, your card balance, and any promotions. The app can also be used to contact MyCiTi in case of an emergency.

Navigation Apps

One of South Africa’s favourites, Waze is an app quite literally driven by people. It uses real-time data to create comprehensive maps and navigation information, alerting drivers to traffic, accidents, police presence, and construction.

This makes Waze quite spot-on in terms of an ETA, directing you to take the quickest and safest routes possible. Download it at the iOS App Store and Google Play .

To explore a city through the eyes of locals, we encourage using VoiceMap . This is a creative and insightful touring app that uses GPS to guide you along walks, cycles, and drives through cities around the world.

As you move, the app picks up on your location and begins to tell you stories and facts about what you see. The app is designed to be functional offline too – all you need to do is download a tour before starting and off you go! For safety, VoiceMap alerts you when you have taken a wrong turn and gives you directions for getting back on track. Collated by journalists, filmmakers, novelists, podcasters and experienced tour guides, VoiceMap gives you a truly unique look into different city spaces and allows you to move at your own pace.

In South Africa, the app covers Overberg, Hermanus, Johannesburg, the Cape Winelands, and Cape Town to date. We highly recommend it for those eager to learn more about South Africa. Download it either at the iOS App Store or on Google Play .

Entertainment Apps

Guidewithme.

For getting an inside scoop on what’s happening where and how to best get around a city in South Africa, GuideWithMe is the ideal buddy. Similar to VoiceMap, it uses GPS data to track your location, giving you detailed articles about the places you are in.

These articles include interesting information, warnings about health and safety, restaurant and hotel recommendations, road rules, local costs and much more. It’s a cool way of finding out about things to do and places to eat and hang out. The app even allows you to make lists of favourite new places, so you can document your trip along the way! Make sure you have this one downloaded before you arrive.

The Entertainer

The Entertainer , well-known in the Middle East and Asia, was recently launched in South Africa and has made touring our country just that extra bit more fun! After paying a once-off fee, you have access to a large variety of deals and promotions available in the country, perfect for doing a lot, for less.

Using GPS, The Entertainer lets you know what specials are available near you and ensures that you never run out of things to do.

Like in many other countries, it is important to be vigilant in South Africa and stay safe while you travel. To help you with this, Secura offers armed response on the go. The app provides you with a panic button, that when pressed, activates a call for an armed response vehicle near you.

Secura has partnered with a host of security companies, which together covers all nine provinces and almost 900 suburbs, ensuring that you get help as quickly as possible. This is the perfect way to feel safe throughout your adventure, knowing help is around the corner.

Prey Anti-theft

While it is possible to tour South Africa quite safely, in some cases you may be the victim of crimes like theft. Losing your mobile phone can be scary and unsettling, especially because these devices have become our phone books, maps, banks, and photo albums.

If your phone has been stolen (or lost), Prey Anti-theft provides useful GPS data to track it down, helping the police to make finding your device quicker and easier. The app is compatible with a variety of platforms including iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, Ubuntu, and MAC. Download it here .

Technology has advanced in a way that can make travel more efficient, convenient, and enjoyable. Take advantage of what’s out there, and feed your curious soul as you get to know South Africa!

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• Competition closes on 25 September 2021.
• Winner will be notified by email and will be allowed to select their City stay & experience.
• Prize is valid until June 2022.
• Winner has to be a South Africa citizen.
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• Prize does NOT include flights, transfers to and from properties.
• Prize excludes all drinks NOT included in the dinner and experience.
• Winner announced by 30 September 2021.
• This prize is valid for one winner and a plus one.

How to Plan the Perfect South Africa Road Trip

This page contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more info.

There aren’t many countries where you can get up close to lions, penguins, and meerkats, hike through verdant mountains, surf on wild beaches, relax at wineries, and enjoy gourmet feasts all in one trip. South Africa is a stunning, diverse, and affordable country that’s best explored on a road trip.

You can read our detailed South Africa road trip itinerary  for where we went, and in this post I’ll cover how to plan your own perfect road trip.

Getting There and Away

Petrol stations, road conditions, choosing your south africa road trip itinerary, money and costs, accommodation, internet and mobile data plans, health and travel insurance, food and drink, what to pack, recommended reading, our south africa posts.

Many nationalities including citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia don’t need a visa for South Africa for visits of 90 days or less.

South Africa are strict about visa runs, so you can’t just leave the country and return a few days later to get another 90 days. I’ve heard that you need to return to your home country before you can get another entry, but I’m not sure of the exact rules. We did return to South Africa for one night after two weeks in Namibia  to transit through Johannesburg. We were asked about our plans and were only given a stamp for two days, not the usual 90 days.

Back to Contents

South Africa is in the southern hemisphere so the summer is from November to February and the winter is from June to August. The weather is temperate year-round so there is never a bad time to visit.

Our trip was complicated by the fact that the weather differs across the country. In the summer Cape Town and the Garden Route are dry, but Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, the Drakensberg Mountains, and the Wild Coast are rainy.

Our road trip was from January to February so we had warm weather throughout, usually in the high 20s or low 30s Celsius. It did rain quite a bit before we got to Cape Town (where there was a drought), but it didn’t affect our trip too much and there were plenty of sunny days. Kruger is quieter and cheaper in the summer, but wildlife is harder to see (we still saw plenty ).

Cape Town in February and March was glorious with hot, dry weather perfect for beaches and picnics .

It’s best to avoid mid-December to mid-January when many South Africans travel during the summer holidays.

Unless you are overlanding across Africa you will most likely arrive in South Africa by plane. The main international airports are in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Johannesburg is usually cheaper so this is where we started our trip.

The cheapest flights from outside of Africa are usually from Europe or Dubai. We arrived from London via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines and left on a direct flight from Johannesburg to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. We used Kiwi and Skyscanner to search for the best deals.

We didn’t need a car in Johannesburg, so we took an Uber from the airport (cheaper than a regular taxi) and back again three days later to pick up our car and start our road trip.

South Africa has eleven official languages but English is widely spoken.

In the past South Africa has had a reputation for crime, including car jackings, so many people are concerned about safety. We felt safe on our road trip and didn’t have any problems (our only minor issues were in downtown Cape Town ). That said, we did take more precautions than we usually would, just in case.

• Don’t drive at night.
• Keep your car doors locked.
• Don’t leave anything visible in the car, even sunglasses. We left our luggage in the boot but didn’t open it when we parked somewhere.
• Don’t stop for anyone.
• Keep the windows closed while driving in cities.
• When you park in cities there is usually an unofficial guard who will keep an eye on your car. Tip him at least 2–5R when you leave (keep some change for this). Cape Town was the only place on our route that had car guards.
• Watch for potholes.
• Keep to the speed limit—on national highways it’s 120km/h (75mph), on secondary (rural) roads it’s 100km/h (60mph), and in built-up areas it’s usually 60km/h (35mph).
• Watch out for four-way crossroads. All cars have to stop and then the first one who arrived goes first.
• Don’t walk around at night in cities. We did walk around in small towns and safer neighbourhoods like Sea Point in Cape Town. If in doubt, ask a local.
• Be careful in downtown Cape Town, especially at night and on weekends, and keep an eye on your possessions. This is the only place we had any issues on our trip with an attempted pickpocket and a threatening beggar.

We did feel safe in South Africa, though, so don’t let this advice put you off. You just have to be a bit more cautious than in some parts of the world.

Car hire is reasonably priced in South Africa and you don’t need a 4WD, so we rented the cheapest compact car with A/C which cost US$12.60 a day including one-way fee. Our Renault Sandero was fine, but in retrospect, a larger car with power steering and cruise control would have been more comfortable considering the distances we travelled.

You can usually find the best deals on comparison sites like Rental Cars , but it’s also worth checking with local companies. As we were renting for a longer period (36 days), we were offered an extra discount from Around About Cars (who sub-contract to Tempest in Johannesburg) so they worked out cheaper. The only issue we had was Tempest charging us a cleaning fee at the end. We would have cleaned it ourselves if we had known this was expected.

When you are comparing prices make sure you include all the extra charges like contract fee, additional driver, and one-way fee, and make sure you have unlimited kilometres.

You’ll also need a credit card in the driver’s name for a deposit—a hold of 6500R ($490) was put on our card and removed on return.

We always buy separate excess car insurance as it’s much cheaper than buying the policy the car rental company tries to sell you. An annual worldwide policy cost us £52 ($67). 

It’s a good idea not to let your petrol get too low as we did encounter some quieter stretches without petrol stations for a few hours. Some stations don’t accept cards so keep some cash on hand. Most stations have a shop, toilets, and sometimes fast-food outlets.

Petrol stations in South Africa are not self-service. Stay in your car and an attendant will fill up for you and often clean your windscreen. They can also check your oil, water and tyre pressure if you ask. It’s customary to tip around 5R—we usually gave more, especially if they cleaned the windows.

Road conditions are generally good in South Africa and we rarely encountered traffic (Cape Town is the major exception). Although the main roads are usually tarmacked there are occasionally rougher sections with potholes. We also had to drive on bumpy dirt tracks for short sections to reach some of our accommodation as we chose more isolated locations. Our little car managed the dirt roads fine, if a little uncomfortably.

There are quite a few toll roads. We drove on five of them which cost from 43–78R ($3–6). Keep cash for these as they only accept South African cards.

We bought a SIM card and data plan (see below) and used Google Maps for directions, which worked well. The only area it didn’t work was Greater Kruger as Google Maps didn’t know that you had to leave the private reserves and enter through official Kruger National Park gates. Just make sure you get directions if you stay at a safari lodge .

We had 3G or at least Edge almost everywhere we visited. If you start turn-by-turn directions when you have signal they will continue even if you lose connection.

There are so many places to visit in South Africa. I recommend getting inspiration from blogs and a guidebook (we used Lonely Planet South Africa ) and creating a custom Google Map with pins for all the places you are interested in visiting. You can then calculate how long it will take to travel between them and work out a logical route. One-way rental fees and domestic flights are inexpensive so there’s no need to drive back to your starting point.

We spent 36 days (including three days at the start without a car) driving from Johannesburg to Cape Town via Kruger National Park, the Drakensberg Mountains, the Wild Coast, and the Garden Route. You can see our detailed South Africa road trip itinerary .

I highly recommend this route if you have the time as it covered a wide range of landscapes and activities. If you have less time, you could choose one section such as Kruger from Johannesburg (read our Kruger self-drive guide ) or the Garden Route from Cape Town .

The local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). The current exchange rate is 1 USD = 13 ZAR and 1 GBP = 17 ZAR.

Credit cards are often accepted but not always, so keep some cash on you. Many ATMs charge withdrawal fees. FNB doesn’t but the maximum amount you can withdraw is 2000R ($152). There are no ATMs in small towns like Coffee Bay on the Wild Coast so stock up before you go.

We spent an average of £52/ $65 per person per day on our 36-day road trip staying in mid-range accommodation and eating out frequently (we did self-cater sometimes). See our South Africa travel costs post for a detailed breakdown.

We mostly stayed in comfortable, mid-range accommodation that we found on Booking.com . Self-catering is very popular in South Africa and we almost always had a kitchen, either private in a bungalow/house or shared in a hostel.

Some of our favourites include Havana Nights in Graskop, Forellenhof Farm in Wakkerstroom, Wilderness Beach Resort in Wilderness, The Edge in Hogsback, and Orange Grove Farm in Robertson (our favourite and totally worth the splurge!).

You can read more about them in our post on special places to stay in South Africa .

Hostels are known as backpackers in South Africa and there are some good ones with private rooms as nice as hotels (such as the sea view room at Buccaneers in Chintsa). Dorm rooms are ideal if you’re on a tight budget.

Airbnb is a good option in cities but limited everywhere else. We stayed in excellent Airbnb apartments in Johannesburg, Plettenberg Bay, and Cape Town. If you haven’t used Airbnb before, sign up here for $39 off your first stay.

We also stayed in a few government-run SAN Parks camps in National Parks. The accommodation isn’t amazing but you can’t beat the settings. Rest camps are the most affordable option in Kruger National Park (book in advance as they are popular) and the best way to do a budget self-drive safari .

The best places we stayed were the two safari lodges in private game reserves that border Kruger National Park—read our reviews of Klaserie Sands River Camp and Umlani Bushcamp . If you can afford it, a safari lodge is well worth it. 

We booked all our accommodation in advance. We booked our Kruger camps about three months in advance (as far in advance as possible is best) and other stops for our first two weeks (including eight days in Kruger) two months in advance. Outside of Kruger, I am sure we would have found availability on Booking.com nearer the time though.

Halfway through our road trip I booked accommodation for the remaining few weeks. Some places we wanted to stay were already booked up but there were plenty of alternatives. You could probably book as you go, especially outside of the summer, but we preferred to have it all sorted.

You can see exactly where we stayed in our road trip itinerary .

WiFi is generally slow and not all accommodation has it (or it’s only in common areas). Some backpackers charge for WiFi.

We found a mobile data plan a better way to stay connected. We bought a Vodacom SIM for 105R ($8) from the Vodacom shop at Johannesburg airport and a 10GB data plan for 599R ($45). SIM cards are cheaper elsewhere but it was easier to buy it at the airport.

We had 3G most of the time but it sometimes dropped to Edge in more remote areas. We didn’t have any signal in the private game reserves and outside of the camps in Kruger National Park.

Malaria isn’t present in most of the country except the far northeast. You might want to consider taking antimalarial pills if you are visiting Kruger National Park. It’s best to get a doctor’s advice before you travel.

Tap water is safe to drink in South Africa. We did get sick on the Wild Coast so you might want to be careful there.

Travel insurance is essential in case anything goes wrong. We use True Traveller insurance , which is the best and cheapest option we’ve found for UK/EU citizens. If you are from outside Europe, we recommend Heymondo , which is a well-respected company with excellent coverage.

Wine is great and inexpensive—don’t miss a visit to the Cape Winelands . Appletiser is a delicious sparkling 100% apple juice made in South Africa.

Most restaurants serve a wide variety of international cuisine like you’d expect in the US or UK. There are some traditional African dishes but these include meat. Indian food is a better option for vegetarians.

Almost all restaurants have vegetarian options although they might not be very exciting in rural areas. We ate a lot of toasted cheese sandwiches, Greek salads, and pizza. The food in Cape Town is much better—see our favourite vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Cape Town.

Self-catering is popular and you’ll likely have access to a kitchen and/or braai (barbecue). South Africans love to barbecue. There are plenty of supermarkets like SPAR and Pick n Pay. Woolworths is a more upmarket option similar to M&S in the UK. Look out for farm stalls, which are small shops selling tasty homemade products like bread, jam, and baked goods.

A few items that would be useful:

• South African power adapter – They use a round three-pronged plug that isn’t included in universal adapters.
• Water bottle – We use this Vapur Element foldable one that doesn’t take up much space when not in use.
• Camera with a long lens (for safaris) – I used my mirrorless camera, the Olympus OMD-EM5 and the Olympus 75–300mm lens. It is a much smaller, lighter combo than an SLR with telephoto lens and worked well.
• Spare camera batteries and memory cards – You’ll be taking a lot of photos!
• Binoculars – We didn’t have any but often wished we did on safari.
• Torch/flashlight – This was useful on safari.
• Insect repellent
• Portable battery charger – Useful if you want to stay in isolated off-the-grid locations ( Umlani Bushcamp did not have power points in our room).

Otherwise, we just packed our usual clothes, electronics, and toiletries in our carry-on size backpacks —see our carry-on packing list . 

When we got to South Africa we stocked up on basic self-catering supplies at a supermarket as well as a tupperware pot for storing leftovers and a flask for coffee in the car. Simon usually made his own with his AeroPress coffee maker . A cooler would also be useful for storing perishables and cold drinks on long drives but we managed without.

I think it’s important to have an understanding of recent history before you visit. If you only read one book, make it Nelson Mandela’s inspiring autobiography Long Walk to Freedom . See my list of other South Africa books to read before you visit.

We also used the Lonely Planet South Africa guidebook on our Kindle.

For more about our experiences in South Africa, take a look at these posts:

• The Best South Africa Road Trip Itinerary
• How Much Does a South Africa Road Trip Cost?
• 12 Books to Read Before Visiting South Africa
• Kruger Safari on a Budget: How to Plan the Perfect Self-Drive Trip
• Which Kruger Safari is Right For You? Self-Drive vs Private Lodge
• Klaserie Sands River Camp: An Intimate Safari Lodge in Kruger
• Umlani Bushcamp: An Affordable Eco Safari Lodge in Kruger
• The 28 Best Things to Do in Cape Town
• The 25 Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Cape Town
• Driving the Cape Peninsula on a Harley Davidson
• Cape Town From Above: A Helicopter Trip Over the City

Other Destinations

• Stunning Franschhoek: The Best Base for South Africa’s Cape Winelands
• Meerkats, Mountains and Caves in Oudtshoorn
• Discover a Different Side of South Africa in Coffee Bay

We had an amazing time road tripping across South Africa. I hope this post has helped you plan your own road trip—let me know if you have any questions.

If you enjoyed this post, pin it!

11 Comments

I’m planning to visit SA, but settle for road trips for budget reasons, and after reading your posts :) My plan is to drive from Johannesburg to Kruger, then from Kruger down to Cape town… the route I’ll be taking from Johannesburg to Cape Town normally passes either through Bloemfontein or Kimberley.. i just wanted to ask, what is the best route/sites/towns/accommodations to visit from Kimberley to Cape Town?. Also, please do give me recommendations in case i plan to take the route from Johannesburg to Kimberley.

Thanks and regards, Faris

Reply ↓

I don’t think it makes sense to go through Kimberley if you are coming from Kruger. We didn’t go that way so I can’t advise on places to stop.

This is our itinerary from Johannesburg to Kruger to Cape Town: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/south-africa-road-trip-itinerary/

Hi, we’re visiting SA in November for 16 days. We land in Johannesburg and the 3 musts for us are Kruger, Cape Town and the winelands. Do you have a recommended route/stops for half the time that you had there?

Regards Thank you,

I’d be tempted to fly between Kruger and Cape Town to save time. You could easily spend 10 days or more exploring Cape Town and the winelands, but you could also drive the Garden Route as well (with possible overnights at Wilderness and Plettenberg Bay). Have an amazing trip!

Thanks for the recommended reading! Knowing a little about the place before going there always makes it more interesting. And hey there’s Klaserie Sands from your other post! :)

I will be traveling from Jo-burg to Cape Town stopping at many places along the way. I’ve heard Drakensburg and Sinsta have pretty rough roads.

What kind of car would you recommend renting? SUV or would a compact car be sufficient?

We were fine in a compact car. There are a few rough sections but it wasn’t a problem.

I live in Cape Town (from England), and I’m glad you enjoyed your visit! I can agreee with you in terms of the traffic in Cape Town hah!

What a great city to live!

Just amazing, keeps getting better and better with all the posts, have marked all of it for our trip, much easier for our plans. Thanks a ton

I’m glad you have found them useful. Good luck with planning your trip!

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The 6 most beautiful road trips in South Africa

Sep 6, 2023 • 9 min read

A road trip in South Africa gets you up close to the country’s extraordinary landscapes © Goodboy Picture Company / Getty Images

South Africa offers some of the world’s most diverse landscapes, from sparkling oceans and stark deserts to snow-capped peaks and wildlife-dense savanna.

But it’s not just the land that makes South Africa so enthralling – the wealth of the country’s diverse cultural groups, each contributing its own architecture, traditional cuisine and customs, adds to the alluring mix. Traveling by car, with the ability to stop, explore and wander on your own schedule, might be the ideal way to take in all this variety. 

Here's our pick of the six best road trips in South Africa.

1. Panorama Route

Best road trip for high-altitude adventure Long Tom Pass to Echo Caves; 193km (120 miles)

Dipping in and out of Mpumalanga ’s Blyde River Canyon , the world’s third largest, this cloud-high drive takes you through and along magnificent natural features – cliffs, waterfalls and forests, with eagles soaring above – while offering plenty of places to get out and stretch your legs.

It’s a short hike, for example, to God’s Window , an overlook peeking down through jungly, bird-filled foliage some 2745m (9005ft) below. The Three Rondavels are a trio of soaring, grass-topped peaks resembling indigenous cone-shaped huts. Trails wander around Bourke’s Luck Potholes , cylindrical holes formed over thousands of years by the swirling waters of the Treur and Blyde rivers.

But it’s not just about the natural landscape. Several towns worth a stop include historic Pilgrim’s Rest, a living historical monument to the gold rush days of the late 1800s. Beautifully renovated structures line its streets, including the Victorian-era  Royal Hotel , whose Church Bar was originally a school chapel. Graskop is famed for its pancake restaurants, along with the Big Swing, an exhilarating rush over the canyon on one of the world’s highest cable gorge swings. Sabie is a tranquil country town in the middle of a forest, with watery natural attractions, including Bridal Veil Falls, Lone Creek Waterfall and Horseshoe Falls.

2. Garden Route

Best road trip for a Garden of Eden experience Mossel Bay to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth); 300km (186 miles)

Meandering through South Africa’s lush Indian Ocean littoral, the Garden Route (N2) is one of the nation’s most incredible itineraries. Burgeoning with luxuriant flora and fauna as well as coastal towns, pristine beaches and misty mountain forests, this drive is chock-full of things to see and do in one of the world’s most staggeringly beautiful settings.

For lovers of the outdoors, this road trip offers access to plenty of hiking trails, including the fabled five-day Otter Trail in Tsitsikamma National Park ; surfing at numerous beaches, including the famous Jeffreys Bay; and the world’s largest commercial bridge bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge . Camping is sublime, whether you prefer pitching your tent next to a rippling river, a primeval forest or the boundless ocean.

Wildlife aficionados adore Oudtshoorn and its ostrich farms; Addo Elephant National Park , which is also home to rhinos, lions, hyenas and zebras; and Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary , which has more than 700 primates in a free-range multi-species reserve. You can also walk with wild cheetahs at Tenikwa Wildlife Center . Nature is everywhere you look – expect to spot otters, Southern right whales and the odd great white splashing offshore, with birds galore flitting through the treetops and scurrying across the sands.

Oak-lined Goringhaikona (formerly known as George) provides a good base for setting out. Other popular towns include Knysna , with its nearby oyster farms; the seaside resort of Witsand , which offers water sports, fishing and whale watching; and Mossel Bay , boasting a temperate climate and cultural history dating back 350,000 years.

Local tip:  Witsand Nature Reserve comes with a soundtrack – when conditions are hot and dry, the sand sings. The "roaring sands" effect is created by air escaping from the tightly packed grains.

3. Midlands Meander

Best road trip for craftsmanship Lions River to Nottingham Road; 27km (16.7 miles)

Delving into the heart of KwaZulu-Natal northwest of Durban, the Midlands Meander is a collection of five color-coded routes that showcase the best of this untrammeled, rolling-green realm. You’ll discover breweries and wineries, unique lodging and locally sourced restaurants, nature reserves, traditional villages and plenty of outdoor activities along the way – though the region is perhaps most beloved for its arts and crafts.

Some 160 studios, workshops and outlets, including potters, leatherworkers, batik artists and chime makers, hide tucked away on tree-shaded lanes. Perhaps the best known is Ardmore Ceramics in the Champagne Valley, which has a gallery and studio where locals create whimsical, fantastical, colorful pieces that decorate such venues as Buckingham Palace and the White House.

You can follow one of the specific routes, with Route 4 highly recommended. On this drive, you’ll find the Capture Site Museum , marking the spot where Nelson Mandela was apprehended in 1962. A stunning, shape-shifting sculpture made of 50 steel columns that form Mandela’s face when viewed from the right direction stands outside. Rawdons Hotel is a fabulous, English-style country estate complete with a duck-dotted lake, a brewery, a distillery and a thatched roof. Enjoy goat’s milk cheese at Swissland Cheese and handcrafted Belgian chocolates at Chocolate Heaven.

4. Wild Coast

Best road trip for dramatic ocean views East London to Mzamba; 482km (300 miles)

This laid-back drive is all about stunning, off-the-beaten-path scenery – empty beaches lapped by the Indian Ocean’s turquoise surf, jagged coastlines, crashing waterfalls, dark skies full of shooting stars and picturesque turquoise rondavels perched on emerald-green hillsides. You can drive this road trip straight through, but taking the time to explore will reveal the true wonders of this wild place. While the main route is the N2, away from the ocean, be sure to veer off to explore, hike, swim, canoe and fish. A 4x4 is highly recommended.

Wild Coast highlights include Mkambati Nature Reserve south of Port Edward, with swamp forests, grasslands, rocky beaches, and grazing eland and hartebeest. A series of waterfalls spill dramatically into the ocean. Trail-laced Silaka Nature Reserve near Port St Johns is a haven of exotic lilies, zebras and wildebeest, and Bulungula Beach is supreme for surfing, fishing, swimming and canoeing. You could drive to Hole in the Wall, but a three-hour hike across the grassy coastline is the more idyllic approach to this natural rocky archway that swirls with local legends. The local Xhosa name is esiKhaleni, “the place of thunder,” for the sound the rushing ocean makes as it roars through the almost circular cavity.

But it’s not all about the natural beauty here. As you snap photos of cows lazing on beaches, remember that Nelson Mandela was born on these grasslands (he was a cowherd as a young child). Various sites related to him include the Nelson Mandela Museum , which has three parts: a museum at Mthatha; a museum at the small hamlet of Qunu, where Mandela was baptized and is buried; and an open-air museum in Mvezo, where he was born. It’s a profound connection to this remote land of wild beauty.

Planning tip:  Most car rental agencies can provide safety seats, but you'll need to book them in advance and usually pay extra.

5. Sani Pass

Best road trip for thrilling scenery Underberg to Mokhotlong, Lesotho; 9km (5.6 miles)

For drop-dead gorgeous scenery and the thrill of a lifetime, Sani Pass is hard to beat. An old mule route ending high atop the roof of Lesotho , this sweeping, wildflower-dotted road begins innocently enough. But before long you embark on the 1332m (4370ft) climb up the towering basalt cliffs of the Drakensberg mountains to the pass, looking out over the striking green midlands and, as you get higher, the Khomazana Valley. Plenty of shoulder parking areas allow you to stop and take it all in. 

This drive isn’t for the fainthearted. The route has tight switchbacks, hairpins, water crossings, plunging drops and no guardrails (and remains of rusting vehicles that didn’t make it). Plans are in the works to tar the road, but for the moment, it remains gravel, requiring the use of a 4x4 vehicle. Fog sometimes covers the pass, making conditions even hairier (and the views nondescript). Needless to say, above-average driving skills are necessary. 

But the stomach-churning journey is worth it as you reach the top, where you officially leave South Africa and enter Lesotho. Toast your achievement with lunch at the Sani Mountain Lodge – Africa’s highest pub, at 2876m (9435ft) above sea level – before heading back down the same precarious way you came.

Planning tip: As you're entering Lesotho, you'll need to take your passport. 

6. Best of the Cape Loop

Best road trip that lives up to the hype  Start and end at Cape Town; 160km (99 miles)

The Cape Peninsula south of Cape Town showcases the bewitching meeting of two oceans (Atlantic and Indian), fishing villages, sparkling beaches, the historic Cape of Good Hope – and penguins, too. There’s a lot of hype around this loop drive, and it absolutely lives up to it.

The first part hugs the coastline of stunning False Bay. Scan the waters for whales from August through November. You’ll have your choice of sparkling white-sand beaches to stop, swim and picnic at, while a string of villages each have their own charms, including Muizenberg, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town. Just outside Simon’s Town, Boulders Beach is a must-stop for its famed colony of African penguins, accessed via boardwalks down to the beach. You could spend all day watching these adorable little birds waddle and splash but pry yourself away, continuing south to the Cape of Good Hope.

You’re in the middle of an immense nature reserve here, with ostriches, baboons and zebras running wild among the fynbos, an endangered plant type endemic to the Cape Peninsula. You can hike, hit the beach and stop for lunch at a local restaurant, but be sure to follow everyone down to the very tip of the peninsula at Cape Point, Africa’s southwesternmost spot. The old lighthouse here is an easy uphill walk; you can also take the Flying Dutchman Funicular .

The drive north up the Atlantic Seaboard reveals remote villages –  Hout Bay (take a seal excursion to Duiker Island) and Chapman’s Peak , with a 5km (3-mile) toll road leading to a stunning view over the bay and the ocean. Some say it’s the world’s most beautiful stretch of road.

Meander your way back to Cape Town, with last chances for beach time at Camps Bay and Clifton .

Local tip:  As well as the sweeping vistas from Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope lighthouse, head to Bloubergstrand for a full view of Table Mountain.

This article was first published January 2022 and updated September 2023

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Wanderlust Movement | A South Africa Travel Blog

10+ Spectacular Road Trips in South Africa You Can’t Miss!

October 16, 2020 by Lauren Melnick

Last Updated on September 23, 2023 by Lauren Melnick

When it comes to sheer natural beauty, few countries can compete with South Africa .

I mean, it has everything you could possibly want. Ridiculously looking beaches, stunning mountains dwarfing your existence, wonderlands of wildflowers, arid desert landscapes, and nature reserves bursting with critters and the iconic Big 5.

Oh, and don’t forget the seemingly endless wine routes and delicious plates of gourmet food!

So it’s not surprising South Africa is one of the top road trip destinations in the world .

Over the years, I’ve done countless trips around South Africa and those hours cruising around the country are probably some of my favourite travel experiences to date.

Today, I’m finally sharing a selection of the best South African road trips. If you’re looking for incredible places and experiences to add to your South Africa itinerary (or an excuse to leave the house this weekend), keep reading!

Psstt…Want more South Africa travel inspiration? Check out these other posts:

• The Ultimate South African Road Trip Itinerary
• Tips For Making The Most Out of Your Summer Road Trip
• The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials Packing List (+ Free Checklist!)
• The Ultimate South Africa Bucket List: 40+ Amazing Places to Visit
• The Best of the Panorama Route South Africa: 2-Day Itinerary
• Visiting Kruger National Park: Everything You Need to Know

Table of Contents

Garden Route Road Trip Highlights

Top places to stay along the garden route, kruger national park, top places to stay along the panorama route, top places to stay along the elephant coast, namaqualand road trip highlights, top places to stay in namaqualand, west coast road trip highlights, top places to stay along the west coast, route 62 road trip highlights, wild coast road trip highlights, highlights of drakensberg – sani pass road trip, johannesburg to cape town road trip highlights, tips for driving in south africa, the best road trips in south africa.

Garden Route

I think we can all agree that the Garden Route is an iconic road trip in South Africa .

It’s a destination that’s straight-up “pinch me I must be dreaming”.

With 200km of towering mountains, winding hiking trails through steep valleys, isolated beaches, the highest bungee jump in the world and Great White shark sightings- it has everything adventure-loving travellers could ask for and then some.

Starting in Mossel Bay, you could spend a couple of days to weeks town hopping between Knysna , George, Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay , Nature’s Valley and Storms River.

I love the Garden Route so much, I made three road trips in one year, and I STILL didn’t see everything.

It’s the definition of Choose-Your-Own-Adventure with a ridiculous amount of things to see and do.

• Robberg Nature Reserve (coastal hikes, shark sightings and a braai with a view)
• Tsitsikamma National Park (suspension bridges over the ocean, anyone?)
• The Otter Trail (the best and oldest multi-day hike in South Africa )
• Bloukrans Bridge (a bungee jump only for the brave)
• Teniqua Treetops  (stay in a mother-trucking treehouse!)
• Sky Villa Plett
• Whispering Oaks
• Wild Spirit Backpackers

Read More: An Epic One Week Garden Route Itinerary (Detailed)

As South Africans, it’s our national duty to visit the great Kruger National Park AT LEAST once.

Considered one of the best national parks in the world, it’s a road trip you won’t regret. 

Plus, us locals get an incredible day and accommodation rates into the park, so take advantage!

To get the most out of Kruger National Park’s 2 million hectares – you need a plan. And that plan starts with staying INSIDE the park.

Seriously, it’s going to save you so much time and waiting in long a** lines first thing in the morning SUCKS.

The second part of your road trip plan is choosing the best camps for your safari goals:

• Lower Sabie is the most popular camp for good reasons. The sightings here are unreal, but come with a six-month waiting list – so don’t waste time securing your reservation.
• Satara is Big Cat country. The Savanah Plains are home to adorable floofs like lazy lions, elusive leopards perching in Leadwood trees.
• Tamboti is a remote camp and is utterly hidden in the bush. Come here if you want to try your luck finding the den of wild dogs that call the area home.

Read More: Visiting Kruger National Park: Everything You Need to Know

Panorama Route

While you’re road-trippin’ around Kruger National Park, make a small detour to the world-famous Panorama Route .

Located in the stunning Mpumalanga province , it’s one of those destinations that doesn’t look real.

This spectacular part of South Africa is the stuff of dreams. The vistas couldn’t look bad if they tried, and the area is overflowing with waterfalls .

Seriously. I spent two days driving around the Panorama Route, ticking off five waterfalls, and that wasn’t all of them!

If you’re a nature lover like me and you’re all about proving TLC wrong, you will lose your sh*t here.

It’s also one of the cheapest road trips in South Africa, with entrance fees to most attractions costing a measly R10.00 – R20.00.

Panorama Route Road Trip Highlights

• Blyde River Canyon (an iconic sunset spot)
• God’s Window (gaze all the way to Mozambique on a clear day!)
• Lisbon Falls (a ridiculous good-looking waterfall)
• Pinnacle Rock (set your alarms and pull through for sunrise)

Read More: The Best of the Panorama Route South Africa: 2-Day Itinerary

• Blyde Canyon: A Forever Resort
• Wild Forest Inn

Elephant Coast

The Elephant Coast and it’s 10 Jewels of iSimangaliso is one of the best road trips in South Africa for a very simple reason: it’s freaking epic dude!

Drive down to the north coast and witness the beauty of Mother Nature in full force!

Dive into the depths of Sodwana Bay (the tippy top of iSimangaliso) and swim with whale sharks, endangered sea turtles, ragged-tooth sharks and dolphins. 

Not a water baby? Patrol the beaches after sundown and watch loggerhead turtles lay their eggs.

Further south, you can go on Big 5 game drives and stay on isolated, unspoilt South African beaches . 

Sound like your vibe? Welcome to the ultimate Durban road trip where the bush meets the beach.

Elephant Coast Road Trip Highlights

• Whale watching at St Lucia
• Sodwana Bay (the best scuba diving destination in South Africa)
• Kosi Bay (an 18km 4×4 coastal adventure that borders Mozambique)
• False Bay (home to Nile crocodiles and pink Pelicans)
• Lake Sibaya (the largest freshwater lake in South Arica)

Read More: The Best Game Reserves in KZN for an Unforgettable Safari Experience

• Coral Divers in Sodwana Bay
• Kosi Forest Lodge
• Thonga Beach Lodge
• Ghost Mountain Inn
• Makakatana Bay Lodge

Namaqualand

When I posted my Namaqualand road trip on Instagram, I got A LOT of DMs from you guys. 

The #1 comment?

“I thought Namaqualand was a road trip in South Africa for grandparents.”

Well, I’m here to tell you nay-nay. That is fake news.

While Mel, Carmen and I were the *youngest* flower chasers out there, we did have a blast!

The region went above and beyond my expectations and I would 12/10 recommend carving out time in your calendar for wildflower season road trip.

The best part about Namaqualand is you can break up the itinerary to suit your schedule.

Only have a weekend and want to drive max three hours from your home in Cape Town ? Hit up the West Coast, Darling and the Cederberg – all under 4-hours away with rolling landscapes of candy-coloured blooms.

Got more time on your hands and planning a road trip from Johannesburg? Start with the Northern region (Namaqua National Park) and drive south to hit up flower hotspots like Clanwilliam, Nieuwoudtville and Biedouw Valley.

• Namaqua National Park (camp in the south and drive up to the flowers in the north!)
• Hantam National Botanical Gardens  in Nieuwoudtville
• West Coast National Park (don’t miss the Postberg section)
• Goegap Nature Reserve in Springbok

Read More: 8+ Stunning, Drool-Worthy Places to See the Namaqualand Flowers

• Enjo Nature Farm  in Biedouw Valley (comes with a private display of wildflowers and one of the best campsites in South Africa!)
• De Pakhuys  (perfect if you want to go rock climbing as well)
• 1 Queen Vic  (stay in Darling and be close to West Coast National Park and Cederberg)
• The Olive Tree Villa  (for those that want a dose of luxury)

The West Coast, with its blue a** water and six different routes, is one of the best road trips from Cape Town.

Hands down.

Select the itinerary you want to explore, hop in your car and tick off over 100 stops along the way.

Choose from the following routes:

• Tractor Route
• Foodie Route
• Cultural Route

And in true South African flair, there are plenty of wineries along the way Fryer’s Cove in Doring Bay is my favourite! Try the Sauvignon Blanc with some delicious chips and fish.

With so much to see and do, I highly recommend checking out the official West Coast Way website to plan your route around your stomach and other interests.

PLUS most stops are only 1-2 hours away, making it perfect for travellers after short road trips from Cape Town.

• Atlantis Sand Dunes (sunset here is magical!)
• Langebaan and Saldanha Bay (water sport heaven)
• Craft beer tastings in Darling
• Rocking the Daisies (time your road trip with one of the best music festivals in South Africa)
• St Helena Bay (stunning sea views and excellent surf spots)
• Rocklands (an incredible bouldering spot for rock climbers)
• Melkbosstrand (come for the views, stay for the food)
• !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre

Read More: 20+ Most Instagrammable Places in Cape Town

• Swept Away Guesthouse
• Off The Road
• Smugglers’ BnB
• The Tin Shack

Honestly, I’ve only done bits and pieces of the Route 62 road trip, and it’s a slight I need to rectify IMMEDIATELY.

Linking Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, it’s an excellent alternative for travellers who have conquered the Garden Route and are in pursuit of scenic drives, one-of-a-kind boutique accommodation and delicious foodie experiences.

Cutting across the vineyards of the Cape Winelands, the wine route here is world-class and deserves an entire itinerary devoted to devouring it one bottle at a time.

Then there’s the semi-desert landscapes, Karoo National Park, Big 5 game reserves and sunrise missions with curious meerkats.

What more could you ask for?

• Spending a night in a dome house (on a lake!) in Tulbagh at La Bruyere Farm
• Snow missions to the towering mountains of Ceres
• Meerkats and ostriches in Oudtshoorn
• Surfing in Jeffery’s Bay
• Big 7 safari experience at Addo National Park
• Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden
• Getting day drunk along the Route 62 wine route
• Camping and kayaking in the Breede River Valley

Read More: How to Visit Addo National Park: A Complete Self-Drive Safari Guide

The Wild Coast is a must-see road trip destination for so many different reasons. For one – it’s a 250 kilometre stretch of rugged and unspoilt coastline, where you can find awe-inspiring waterfalls, intriguing cultural history, and iconic South African landmarks.

The route starts at Mzamba and winds down to the sleepy city of East London. Along the way, you’ll pass traditional turquoise rondavels in the hills, seaside towns and parts of South Africa few travellers explore.

And beach bums – you’re in luck. The Wild Coast is where you’ll find footprint-free beaches, home to lazy cows and stunning seascapes.

A word of warning:  Before you set out on your road trip, bring a spare tyre. The roads in Coffee Bay and surrounds are notorious for potholes, and there’s a high chance one will demand a sacrifice.

• Hole in the Wall and Coffee Bay
• Morgan Bay cliffs (one of my favourite astrophotography spots in South Africa!)
• Magwa Falls (an incredible waterfall in South Africa near Port St. Johns)
• Chintsa (the beaches here are *chef’s kiss*)
• Kei Mouth (take your car over one of the last car-transporting pontoon river ferry services in South Africa)
• Waterfall Bluff
• Jacaranda shipwreck

Read More: The Ultimate South Africa Bucket List: 40+ Amazing Places to Visit

Drakensberg – Sani Pass

Dramatic landscapes are abundant in the Drakensberg , but for a death-defying South Africa road trip , tackle the iconic Sani Pass.

Situated between Kwa-Zulu Natal and Lesotho it’s the mother of all mountain passes. With a summit altitude of 2876m ASL, dramatic scenery, bad weather and treacherous conditions – it’s a challenging 4×4 drive not for the faint of heart.

When I went up in 2018 (as a passenger), I found myself bitterly regretting not having a will in place as we hugged the terrifying hairpin turns ascending into the thick mist.

But Sani Pass shouldn’t be the only stop on your road trip itinerary. While you’re in the ‘Berg, hike to the top of Tugela Falls (the highest waterfall in Africa) and camp on the summit.

You’ll wake up to one of the most spectacular, jaw-dropping sunrises of your life!

• Have a drink at the highest pub in Africa
• Hike to the top of Tugela Falls (the highest waterfall in Africa)
• Conquer Sani Pass and become a 4×4 Jedi Master
• Afriski (one of the few places you can ski in Africa)
• Drakensberg wine route
• Smoking Dragon Festival (one of the best ways to welcome in the New Year)

Read More: The Best Drakensberg Hikes That’ll Take Your Breath Away

Johannesburg to Cape Town

A lot of South Africans (including myself) are guilty of speeding through the Johannesburg to Cape Town road trip – WITHOUT stopping.

If you’ve never taken the time to break up your trip – boy, are you missing out!

Situated 40km off the N1 between the two cities, is the stunning Eco Karoo Lodge . Spend a night here, and you won’t see or hear another human being while you whip up a braai and take a plunge in the pool.

It’s an epic alternative to the usual Colesberg stopover (and waaaay more photogenic).

Next, make a detour to the incredible Valley of Desolation in Graaf Reinet. Stand in awe of the sheer cliffs of dolerite towering 120 metres from the valley floor against the vast backdrop the Camdeboo.

It looks like Mars. With trees.

• Sutherland (come for the stargazing and witness the cosmos at their finest).
• Samara Game Reserve (a bougie a** private reserve where you can track cheetahs on foot).
• Camedeboo National Park
• The historic towns of Graaf Reinet and Matjiesfontein

Read More: Backpacking South Africa Alone: The Perfect Road Trip Around South Africa

• South Africa Road Trip Safety:  Over the holidays (Christmas and Easter), South Africa sees more road accidents than usual. Stay safe by maintaining a safe following distance, keeping to the speed limit and taking a break from driving every two hours. If you can, rotate drivers to give your eyes a rest.
• Staying Connected:  In some parts of South Africa, the cellphone signal is weak or non-existent. While this is great for a digital detox, if you’re relying on a GPS to get you places, you don’t want to be forced to rely on your internal compass. Download the Tracks4Africa app. It works without a signal. No roaming internet device required.
• Car Rental:  If you need to rent a car for your trip, don’t forget about the security deposit that needs to go on your credit card! All the major airports have car rental services, making it easy to pick up your ride without requesting an Uber. But if you aren’t doing a roundtrip, check before you book where you can drop off the vehicle.
• Plan Your Route:  Don’t leave home without a solid plan for your road trip in South Africa! Of course, you want room in your itinerary for some spontaneous sightseeing, but the distances for some road trips in South Africa are massive. You need to break up how long your driving each day to avoid fatigue and also plan around any road or route closures.

Did I miss any of your favourite road trips in South Africa? Got some suggestions for other top road trip destinations in South Africa? Hit ya gurl up in the comments below!

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About Lauren Melnick

Lauren Melnick is the founder of Wanderlust Movement, Wander to Here and is a South Africa travel blogger. She's been travelling the world as a full-time freelance writer since 2016 and has visited over 40 countries.

When she isn't typing up a storm, you can find her conquering overnight hikes around the Western Cape, rock climbing, and hosting sold out group travel trips around South Africa, Namibia and Morocco.

Reader Interactions

October 17, 2020 at 1:36 pm

South Africa seems perfect for road trips! I’d love to visit Kruger National Park and the Panorama Route ? Road trips are my favourite, so I save this post for when I can travel there!

October 18, 2020 at 2:06 pm

Both are so BEAUTIFUL! I’m sure you’ll love SA when you visit one day 🙂

October 18, 2020 at 7:24 am

I would love to go on a road trip here! Great tips and places to visit.

November 6, 2020 at 3:50 pm

Hubby and I are planning a road trip from Joburg to Cape Town in the 1st week of December. How many days would you recommend we set aside for this? We would like to go via the Garden Route and are flying back from Cape Town.

November 7, 2020 at 10:55 am

Hi Seapei! It really depends on you and how much time you have/what you want to see/how much you want to drive each day. I’ve done JHB to CPT road trips in 2-days, 3-weeks and all the way up to a month. I would recommend you make a list of “must-sees” and plan your route around that. It will give you a better idea of how much time you need.

November 9, 2020 at 7:09 pm

Jhb to cpt.use alternative routes where possible one being the Stunning drive through the knysna forest to the n9.

November 11, 2020 at 3:01 pm

Ooooh thank you!!

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53 episodes

Tourism to South Africa: South Africa is a world-class tourist destination. These podcasts are a way to create interest in South Africa as a holiday and travel destination. We highlight interesting and cool history, explain monuments and memorials, put the history into context, and we hope to make your road trip through South Africa more interesting! Road Trip SA is a mobile app to help tourists find monuments, museums, statues and thousands of POI's. All the listings on the app have a photo, a brief description and some history of that spot. We hope to encourage downloads so clients can explore our history and culture. The narrator of the podcast has a tour and safari company called "Touch Africa Safaris"- http:///www.touch-africa-safaris.com

Road Trip's Podcast - Travel, Touring and Holidays in South Africa using the Road Trip mobile app Road Trip

• Society & Culture
• 3.5 • 2 Ratings
• OCT 31, 2022

Blockhouses of the Anglo-Boer War with Simon Green

We have a chat with Simon Green - "The Blockhouse Guy". Simon has authored two books on the blockhouses of the Anglo-Boer War - a very handy field guide, as well as a more in-depth analysis of the engineering behind these 9000+ structures the British Military left behind in South Africa. We have digitised the field guide - so if you are looking to visit a Blockhouse - the Road Trip app will get you there. The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Frontier Land. We explore the Eastern Cape with Dr. Dean Allen.

We talk with Dr. Dean Allen - renowned Author, Historian, Lecturer, and Media Presenter. Dean has authored several books, two of which are are titled "Frontier Land - Exploring the Eastern Cape." So much of our history played out in this area - and it really is a fascinating part of South Africa. We have digitised these two books and all the spots Dean discusses and describes are on the Road Trip RSA app. The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

• DEC 1, 2021

The Panorama Route - The "Transvaal Drakensberg" Escarpment and the N4 corridor

The "Panorama Route" of Mpumalanga is an essential part of any road trip to the Eastern region of South Africa. There is magnificent scenery, some fascinating history, and fantastic geology to explore.  The worlds' oldest rocks, the very earliest life-forms, gold rush towns, a multitude of waterfalls, as well as breathtaking mountain roads await you here - if you are prepared to explore. The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris This is a recording of a radio show - Radio Ecohealth The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

• DEC 7, 2021

The N2 Highway - Part 1 - We cover Cape Town to the Great Brak River

This episode covers the first part of the N2, which is South Africa's longest numbered road. The N2 is 2255km long, and stretches from Cape Town to Ermelo. It starts in Mowbray near the historic Mostert's Mill, skirts the southern end of Cape Town International and then heads over Sir Lowry's Pass into the Overberg Region. The Overberg - wheat fields, bright yellow canola flowers and hectares of fruit - apples, pears, and peaches. Small towns en-route include the historical Swellendam which is South Africa's third oldest town. Some interesting spots to see includes an Apple Museum in Elgin, and a unique spot in Hartenbos - a Washing Machine, Iron and Laundry museum! The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris This is a recording of a radio show - Radio Ecohealth The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

• DEC 15, 2021

The N2 Highway - Part 2 - The Garden Route - George to Tsitsikamma

The "Garden Route" encompasses the area between George and Port Elizabeth. It is a natural wonderland of high mountain peaks, deep forested ravines, and incredible coastal scenery. The area has a rich history of gold miners, woodcutters, British adventurers, and colourful characters. It is worth getting off the N2 and taking some time to really explore this area. The person who takes some time to really meander through this area will be very richly rewarded. The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris This is a recording of a radio show - Radio Ecohealth The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

• JAN 12, 2022

The N2 Highway - Part 3 - Tsitsikamma to East London

You leave the deeply forested and mountainous areas, and head into "Frontier" or "Settler" country. Port Elizabeth saw the arrival of the 1820 settlers, and the area between there and East London has a rich history of settlers - 5000 British immigrants arrived to settle and stabilise the area - torn by 100 years of unrest and warfare. The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris This is a recording of a radio show - Radio Ecohealth The Road Trip SA app is available for download Do you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

• © 2023 Road Trip's Podcast - Travel, Touring and Holidays in South Africa using the Road Trip mobile app

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Road trip rsa takes you to cool places off the main drag, this app boosts south african tourism by promoting attractive venues, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, handicraft shops and stalls, plus things to see, do, eat and more… all on the road less travelled..

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Listen to our podcast

Tourism to South Africa: South Africa is a world-class tourist destination. These podcasts are a way to create interest in South Africa as a holiday and travel destination. We highlight interesting and cool history, explain monuments and memorials, put the history into context, and we hope to make your road trip through South Africa more interesting! Road Trip SA is a mobile app to help tourists find monuments, museums, statues and thousands of POI’s. All the listings on the app have a photo, a brief description and some history of that spot. We hope to encourage downloads so clients can explore our history and culture. The narrator of the podcast has a tour and safari company called “Touch Africa Safaris”- http:///www.touch-africa-safaris.com

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South Africa tips: You should know this before you make a road trip through South Africa!

Tips for a road trip through south africa, 1. self-driving in south africa is safe if you pay attention to this:.

Yes, driving in South Africa is generally very safe, but there are a few things you should know before taking a road trip through South Africa!

Road trip South Africa tip: You drive on the left in South Africa

It takes some getting used to but soon it feels all normal.

Road trip South Africa tip: Watch out for bad roads and potholes

Not all roads in South Africa are good. In the south (Garden Route) the main roads are in good condition, but as soon as you leave the main roads, you can encounter unpaved stretches. If you also drive through the north or east of South Africa, the roads are sometimes really bad. Watch out for potholes, you don’t want to drive into them because there is a good chance that your tires will break.

Road trip South Africa tip: Rent a car with comprehensive insurance

The roads in South Africa are not great and there is a chance that you or someone else accidentally damages the car. That is why it is nice to have all-risk insurance to prevent unwanted surprises.

Read our Garden Route itinerary blog: with our itinerary for a road trip along the Garden Route in South Africa

Road trip South Africa tip: Don’t drive at night

Just don’t! The roads are not always well lit in South Africa and there is simply a greater chance that something will happen. So you should not drive at night yourself, rather take an Uber.

Road trip South Africa tip: Note: always stop at a stop sign!

Road trip south africa tip: does your predecessor drive on the yellow left emergency lane, then he will make room so that you can pass him by..

South Africa has many single carriageways. Overtaking is therefore not always easy. But because there is a wide emergency lane, it is possible. If your predecessor drives far over the yellow line, it’s a signal that you can safely overtake this car. You’ll see this happen a lot because there are a lot of drivers who don’t go over 50, even on the highway. But it is also possible that someone wants to overtake you, so pull aside.

When you pass the car, turn on your hazard light. This is how you signal a thank you.

Road trip South Africa tip: When parking, put the nose of your car in the direction of driving.

Road trip south africa tip: tip the “parking attendants” in south africa..

In South Africa parking is almost always free, but you are expected to give the parking attendant, recognizable by his yellow or orange vest, a tip of 10-20 rand. These parking guards will help you park the car and watch the cars.

Road trip South Africa tip: Take into account the maximum speed and do not drive through a red light!

Road trip south africa tip: make sure you have an international driver’s license..

Even though your Dutch driving license is valid in South Africa, the police may ask for an international driving license. So carry this along.

Road trip South Africa tip: Lock your doors and close your windows while driving.

Road trip south africa tip: don’t pick up hitchhikers and don’t stop at fruit stalls along the side of the road..

You will see a lot of hitchhikers. And while most will have good intentions, the general advice we received everywhere was not to pick up hitchhikers. Fun fact, there are signs along the side of the road that say you shouldn’t pick up hitchhikers, and often underneath those signs are all people hitchhiking. What a paradox.

Road trip South Africa tip: There are toll roads where you have to pay a small amount.

We only saw one toll road in the Cape Town area, but there are more toll roads in the rest of the country. Here you pay in cash or with a credit card. There are also cars with an e-tag, check whether your rental car also has this. Toll is not too expensive, but you can also select via the Google Maps app that you do not want to enter toll roads.

Road trip South Africa tip: Download the offline maps in the Google Maps app.

2. buy a local sim card so you have internet., 3. you don’t need a world plug for south africa.

Read our Cape Town blog here full of tips about what you can do in Cape Town in 5 days! Or check out our Hout Bay blog , in which we tell you all about this nice region within Cape Town!

4. Don’t withdraw money from ATMs too often!

Not only is this with a debit card expensive (there is a surcharge at most banks in South Africa), you also hardly need any banknotes. You can pay with credit card almost everywhere (hotels, restaurants, petrol stations). Even at national parks you cannot pay with cash because of safety reasons. The only times we used cash was to leave a tip at the gas station or parking attendant.

But: make sure you have some cash in your pocket. When a city or region has a power outage, the ATMs in shops and banks no longer work. Then you cannot pay with a credit card and it is nice to have some cash with you.

Extra South Africa tip: there are two popular apps that allow you to pay contactless. These are Zapper and SnapScan . You can use this to pay in national parks. Handy to have during your South Africa road trip!

Wilderness is one of the nicest places along the Garden Route. Read all about this town in our blog! Also nearby is Knysna , definitely a must visit! 

5. Tipping is very common in South Africa

It is normal to tip in South Africa when dining, doing an activity or staying at a hotel. But also when you have refueled. Here’s some additional information:

• Tip at a gasstation: In South Africa you can stay in the car, an employee of the gas station fills your car and often another employee washes your windscreen at the same time. After this, it is customary to tip 5-15 rand.
• Tip in a restaurant: If you ask for the bill at a restaurant after dinner, you will receive a pen so that you can write on the bill how much tip you want to tip. Between 10-15% is normal. Sometimes a service fee of 13% is already included, then a tip is no longer necessary.
• Tipping at the hotel/to your chambermaid: Leaving a tip for the chambermaid is not required but greatly appreciated (and a little bit expected). We left a tip on the day we checked out, and also made sure that the person at the front desk got a little something. We usually used 20 rand per day as a benchmark here.

A must visit in South Africa to relax is the beautiful town of Montagu ! Read more about this place in our travel guide!

6. Uber is safe and cheap in South Africa

Planning to taste wine in the Cape Winelands?  We wrote several blogs about this: the nicest wineries in Paarl , the 9 best wineries in Stellenbosch and the 9 most beautiful wineries in Franschhoek !

7. You are not allowed to fly your drone everywhere in South Africa

8. expect power outages..

Click here for more of our blogs on South Africa

Fancy this blog? Pin it for later!

More blogs on south africa, travel blog stellenbosch: the 7 best things to do in stellenbosch, the four best wineries in the paarl area, the 9 nicest and best wineries in franschhoek in south africa, 7 picnics in the winelands around stellenbosch: tip for children.

Just one note, Cape Town is rather safe but Johannesburg/KZN is not exactly safe to be as a white person. Lock your windows, do not get out of the car, only go to your destination.

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Best Family Road Trips in South Africa (with Snack Ideas for Kids)

Julie Kynaston

1 December 2022

Julie Kynaston, the founder of Heart Mama Blog, takes us on a cross-country journey, Here are her top tips for the best road trips in South Africa.

The summer holidays are around the corner and there is no better time to embark on different road trips in South Africa. While the prospect of travelling with kids can be daunting (cue “Are we there yet?” on repeat). The trip itself, let alone the destination, is a treasure trove of memory-making opportunities for you and your family.

Your kids won’t remember the shiny new toy they got for their birthday, but the memories you make of adventuring together will stick with them throughout their lives. So, we say, go for it!

Whether it’s a day trip or an epic cross-country journey, here are some tried and tested road trip gems around SA (including top tips on those must-have snacks!).

KWAZULU NATAL

1. Midlands Meander

The Midlands Meander is a collection of tourist routes in KwaZulu-Natal offering arts and crafts, fine cuisine and family experiences. This is a perfect day trip outing, but you’re also spoilt for choice with stunning accommodation options if you have time to stay longer. Enjoy the Midlands all year round – visit in spring to see the wildflowers, in summer to see the baby farm animals, or plan a winter trip to play in the snow!

Top attractions: Feed the goats at Swissland Cheese or visit Karkloof Canopy Tours for a zipline thrill.

2. Sani Pass

This day trip is recommended for adventurous families with self-drive or who like guided tour options. The Sani Pass lies between South Africa and Lesotho and is high-altitude stuff, so be prepared for icy weather at the summit all year round. If you’re up for the challenge, the reward is an incredible drive through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in South Africa. The route is from the Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal and the entire Sani Pass is on South African soil.

Main attraction: An 8km 4×4 route to the summit at 2837m and find the highest pub in Africa.

3. Golden Gate

Golden Gate Highlands National Park is secretly tucked away in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains in the Free State and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery of wildlife and lush vegetation. The vast sandstone formations shine golden-yellow in the evening sun, giving the area its name. It’s truly spectacular. Accommodation options range from rest camps, guest houses or Golden Gate Hotel accommodation – something for everyone.

Top attractions: Visit the Living Museum, known as the Basotho Cultural Village , situated in the park and enjoy a guided walk to the Cathedral Cave .

WESTERN AND EASTERN CAPE

4. Cape Route 62

A tourist route that stretches across the Western and Eastern Cape of South Africa. Hop in your car to travel from Cape Town to Gqeberha (or vice versa) and enjoy the scenery and directness of the route while driving. Cape Route 62 lends itself so well to self-drive holidays because of the excellent road conditions and easily accessible accommodation. Attractions include wineries and game reserves, tribal art, cultural tours and museums. If you are more adventurous there are hiking trails and mountain climbing, 4×4 routes, canoeing, horse riding, even ostrich riding, fishing and caving.

Top attractions: Pop into the Ostrich Farm just fifteen kilometres outside the Karoo town of Oudtshoorn and check out the stalagmites in the Cango Caves .

WESTERN CAPE

5. Garden Route

The 200km stretch of coast connecting Mossel Bay to the Storms River Mouth is commonly referred to as the Garden Route . Think pristine beaches, lagoons, indigenous forests interspersed with picturesque little towns, and an ocean-hugging highway. You can’t go wrong with a road trip along the Garden Route. Drive it in a day or stop and spend a night or two at Mossel Bay, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Nature’s Valley or George.

Top attractions: Book a stay and game drive at Garden Route Game Lodge . Make sure to visit East Head Café in Knysna for a meal on their deck overlooking the sea.

Top Travel Tips for Road Trips in South Africa

Snack ideas for kids over 6.

Travelling is hungry work, and you’ll be grateful you packed snacks ahead of time – they’re cheaper than farm stall snacks and can help break the trip up for the kids.

• Pack healthy snacks into separate snack boxes for the kids and release them slowly.
• Create a fun, new game with Amajoya candy and have a competition to see who can suck their sweet for the longest!
• Don’t forget the driver! Stash some Amajoya candy in the cubbyhole to keep them going.

Inspire the Imagination

Take screens as back up but remember that boredom is the gateway to the imagination, so keep it simple with audiobooks and family card games like I Spy, 20 Questions and the License Plate Game. You can also make a scavenger hunt list for the kids to complete during the trip. Why not reward them with an Amajoya toffee when they’ve spotted everything on the scavenger hunt list?

Drive While the Kids Sleep

Try travelling super early in the morning, later at night, or overnight, when the kids are more likely to sleep through some of the drive.

Take Plenty of Breaks

Make sure to take breaks along the way so the kids can get out and stretch their legs. It will also give them a chance to use the bathroom. Be sure to plan your stops ahead of time – choose petrol stations with a jungle gym or space to run around.

Mzansi awaits!

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We love sharing ideas and tips that bring more joy to your life. If you enjoyed reading about road trips in South Africa, sign up to join the Amajoya family and don’t miss out on our latest stories, recipes and competitions.

Julie Kynaston is a digital content creator and mom to three of the best kids in Cape Town. She blogs over at Heart Mama Blog about parenting and adoption. She loves family hugs, Sunday afternoon snoozes and hot tea, in that order. Follow her at www.instagram.com/heartmamablog

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